Combination corn picker and sheller



Aug. 8, 1950 E. R. GERBER COMBINATION CORN PICKER AND SHELLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 NW N m NMM mm INVENTOR. Eoiwardli'. Gerber 1950 E. R. GERBER 2,518,302

COMBINATION CORN PICKER AND SHELLER Filed Nov. 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. olwa r025. Gerber Aug. 8, 1950 E. R. GERBER COMBINATION CORN PICKER AND SHELLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 INVENTOR.

r M a M m 0 M F Aug. 8, 1950 E. R. GERBER 2,518,302

COMBINATION CORN PICKER AND SHELLER Filed Nov. 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 147 65 0 10 5? M6 2 59 5 1oz 104 El E1 El 2p m I I NVENTOR. Ealu/ardfl Gerber UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION CORN PICKER AND SHELLER Edward R. Gerber, Stockton, CaliL, assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 8, 1947, Serial No. 784,910

8 Claims. (Cl. 5618) 1 This invention relates to a new and combination corn picker and sheller.

An important object of this invention is to provide a corn sheller mechanism associated with improved mounted in housings l1 and [8. An engine is is mounted on the forward end of the narrow body II and imparts drive to the tractor and supplies suflicient power to drive the combination corn a pair of spaced corn picking units which indl- 5 picker and sheller carried by the tractor.

vidually'snap the ears of corn and feed them to The corn picker sheller of this application inaxially aligned shelling rotors and further procludes a pair of crop gathering or harvester units viding for commonseparating, cleaning and ele- 20 and 2| adapted to pick standing corn from the vating mechanism for the shelled corn". field, and by means of gathering chains 22, 23,

Another and further important object of this 24. and 25 the stalks are carried upwardly and invention is to provide a two-row tractor-mounted rearwardly through longitudinally extending harcorn picker in which spaced corn picking units vester unithousings 26 and 21. Each of the deliver severed stalks of corn upwardly and reargathering units and 2| and their respective wardly and thence substantially horizontally housings 26 and 21 fit closely adjacent the longithrough snapping means causing the ears to fall 15 tudinally extending body ll of the tractor and forwardly into opposed auger feed means on the within the confines of the large traction wheels outer ends of axially aligned shelling cylinders to I3 and I4. 'Sickles 28 and 29 are provided in the effect a central delivery of the snapped ears of throat of each of the gathering units as defined corn being shelled to a husk and cob shaking by the gathering chains 22 and 23, and 24 and 25. device, all positioned between the spaced snaprespectively. The sickles 28 and 29 are adapted p units a d ns p d to elevate the to sever the stalk at or near the bottom and thereshelled corn upwardly and rearwardly to a trailupon the gathering chains carry the stalks uping wagon. wardly and rearwardly in such a manner that the Another and further important object of this butt ends of the stalks are carried upwardly and invention is to provide a simple and compact rearwardly at a faster speed by the chains in combined corn picker and sheller incorporating order that the stalks may be positioned relatively many grain saving features which contribute to horizontally with the butt ends extending reareliicient corn picking and shelling. wardly with respect to normal forward travel of Other and further important objects of this the tractor. invention will become apparent from the disclo- 30 A conveyor 30 having cross plates 3| extends sures in the following specification and accomlongitudinally of the housing 21 a best shown in panying drawings, in which: Figure 4 and is adapted to carry the stalks rear- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the comwardly of the rear tractor axles l5 and I6 so that bined tractor-mounted corn picker and sheller of the butt ends are fed to cooperative snapping rolls this invention. 32 and 33 also positioned to the rear of the trac- Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device as tor axles l5 and I6. Another conveyor 34 is'posishown in Figure 1. tioned above the conveyor 30 in the housing 21,

Figure 3 is Sectional View taken on the line and by reason of an upward and forward end 35 33 of F ure 2. the conveyor flights 36 compress the stalk in the re 4 s a sectional view taken on e l 40 housing 21 down against the conveyor 30 and a o Figure horizontal portion 31 of the upper conveyor 34 Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line insures a positive gripping and guiding of the 5-5 of Figure 3. stalks into the snapping rolls 32 and 33. The

As shown in the drawi s, the ref nce 11- stalks are carried through the snapping rolls and meral l0 indicates gene ally an agricultural the ears are broken off in such a manner that they o! havingea relatively narrow longitudinally fall downwardly and forwardly from the snapping tending y P on l Supported at its front rolls into the chamber 38 housing an anger conend by a pair of closely adjacent steerable wheels I veyor 39,

I2. The front end of the tractor I0 is further The housing 25 carries similar conveyors, the defined as that end of the tractor at the front upper of which is shown in Figure 5 at 40. The when the tractor is traveling in a normally forauger conveyor 39 is mounted on a transverse Ward direction e r of t e tractor s D- shaft 4| extending entirely across the rear of the ported by relatively widely spaced large traction tractor and through the housing 26 on the oppowheels I3 and M. The wheels I3 and M are supsite side of the machine. A shelling rotor 42 is ported by axles l5 and 16 which are in turn carried by the shaft adjacent the auger conveyor 3 39. Corresponding to the auger 39 and shelling rotor 42 are the auger conveyor 43 and the shelling rotor 44 mounted on the shaft H at the opposite end thereof. Each of the auger conveyors 39 and 43 is adapted to feed the snapped ears of corn laterally toward the center of the machine. A central transversely extending housing 45 is positioned to the rear of the tractor and between the longitudinally extending housings 26 and 21. The major portions of the shelling rotors 42 and 44 are positioned within this central housing 45.

The rotors are positioned within transversely extending cylindrical housings 46 and 41 and conline the ears of corn.therewithin while the rotors act to shell the kernels from the cobs. Within the central outer housing 45 the bottom portions of the transverse housings 46 and 41 are equipped with a screen member 48 through which. the shelled kernels of corn are adapted to fall. This is best shown in Figures 3 and 5.

The corn drops through the screen 48 onto a shaker tray 49 having a grain pan or stepped end 58 which is adapted to feed the grains of corn to theupper screen or shaker pan i. The corn drops through the shaker pan to a second lower screened shaker pan 52 which also agitates the grains of corn sufllciently to loosen dirt or other waste, at which time a blast of air from a fan 53 carries away the lighter dirt particles and discharges them through the end opening 54 of the central housing 45. The screened-pan 52 is provided with a forwardly and downwardly inclined bottom 55'which feeds the shelled corn forwardly to the anger or worm type conveyor 56. The bottom of the housing 45 is also inclined as shown at 51, and if the grains of corn do get on the bottom, they will flow by gravity to the worm 56. The worm carries the cleaned shelled corn transversely of the housing 45 and delivers the grain to the lower end of a wagon elevator 58 and 59.

As the ears of corn are shelled by the lugs 68 and II, as shown on the rotors 42 and 44, the

.removed husks aggregate near the top of the chamber and are removed from this shelling chamber by husk removing rolls 82 and 63 which rotate in a direction indicated by the arrows 64 and 65. A paddle wheel 66 is adapted to pick up the removed husks and by rotating in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 61 in Figure 3, the paddle wheel kicks or otherwise throws the husks rearwardly out the rear opening 54 in the central housing 45. Should the husks fall on the shaker pans, they would merely be walked rearwardly so that they were discharged through the end opening 54.

Auxiliary worm conveyors 68 and 69 are adapted to laterally feed kernels of corn removed during the snapping operation centrally toward the screen 48, at which point the kernels of corn are treated in the same manner as previously described for the corn shelled by the rotors 42 and 44. A grate I52 inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the snapping rolls aids in recovering grain entrained in stalks passing thereover. Grain dropping off onto the grate I52 falls through onto an inclined floor I53 which carries the grain to the spaced aligned augers 88 and 59 which are carried in transversely extending troughs I54 and I55.

The stripped cobs are finally discharged through the arcuate openings 18 and H at the top of the shelling chamber and thereupon are delivered along with the husks by the paddle wheel 66 out through the end opening 54 of the central housing 45. A hinged damper or gate I58 controls the cob outlets 18 and H. A spring I51 is arranged between the housing and an upward extension I58 of the gate to urge the gate to a closed position over the openings 18 and 1|.

The spring regulated gate thus maintains a back pressure on the discharging cobs to insure efllcient shelling. A shelling chamber full of cobs increases the chances of all the kernels being stripped from the cobs. After being discharged the cobs fall onto the shaker pans where any kernels remaining thereon are finally stripped and returned to treatment with the corn that originally fell through the screen 48 from the shelling chambers.

The corn picker elements receive their drive from a tractor power take-off shaft 12 which directly drives a V-belt pulley IIII which carries a V-belt III to impart drive to a second V-belt pulley H2. The V-belt pulley H2 is keyed or otherwise fastened to a driven shaft H3. The driven shaft H3 is positioned longitudinally of the line of tractor draft and carries rotational drive to a universal joint II4, the other side of which drives a rock shaft H5. The rock shaft II5 extends rearwardly to a second universal joint H6. The rear side of the universal joint I I6 is provided with a stub shaft I I1 which passes into a gear box 13. As best shown in Figure 2, the gear box 13 houses cooperative bevel gears H8 and H9. The bevel gear I18 is mounted on the longitudinally extending stub shaft H1 and the bevel gear H9 is mounted on a transversely extending shaft I28. vA sprocket I2I is mounted on and driven by the shaft I28 at a position outside of the gear box 13. The sprocket I2I carries a chain 14 which extends around an idler sprock- I et I22 and against a relatively large sprocket I23 for imparting drive thereto. The sprocket I23 from the sprocket I23. A V-belt I28 extends around the pulley I25 and imports drive to a V- belt pulley I21 mounted on a fan shaft I28 which as shown in Figure 3 carries the fan 53.

A shaft 8i extends transversely across the tractor mounted corn picker and carries sprockets 83 and 84 at the opposite ends thereof at a position just inwardly of the large rear traction wheels I3 and I4 of the tractor. The shaft 8I also carries a bevel gear 85 which mates with a bevel gear 88 carried and mounted on a shaft 81. The shaft 81 is inclined upwardly and forwardly in a longitudinally extending plane and at its upper end carries a sprocket 88 which drives the outer gathering chain 22. A corresponding driving mechanism is employed for the other outer gathering chain 25. A second cross shaft 82 po'sitioned rearwardly of the cross shaft 8i similarly extends across the entire machine and carries -.sprockets 89, 98, 9| and 92. The sprockets 89 and 92 are positioned at the extreme opposite ends sprockets 83 and 84 on the cross shaft 8|. Chains I31 and I38 respectively interconnect the sprockets 83 and 89, and 84 and 92. A bevel gear-93 mounted on the shaft 92 imparts drive to a mating bevel gear 94 which is carried on a shaft 95 having sprockets 96 and 81 mounted thereon. These sprockets 96 and 91 respectively drive elevating or lower gathering chains I39 and I48. The lower ends of these chains extend around sprockets HI and I42. The upper gathering chain 22 has its lower forward end carried on a sprocket I43.

The cross shaft 4| carries sprockets 19, 98, 99, I88, and III. As previously stated, the shaft 4I has mounted thereon feed augers 39 and 43 and shelling rotors 4! and 44. The sprockets l4 and IN are in alignment with the sprockets II and 9| on the cross shaft 82, and by means of chains I44 and I4! drive is carried between the shafts M and 82'. mounted on shafts I42 and Ill respectively. Gears I06 and III are carried on the shafts I02 and III and have meshing engagement with each other whereupon the snapping rolls 32 and "rtate in a direction opposite to each other. Similarly, the snapping rolls I44 and I" on the other side of the machine are mounted on the shafts I04 and I45 and by means of the gears III! and I09 rotate oppositely. The shafts I02 and I04 carry sprockets Ill and I4. Chains I50 and "I respectively Join sprockets on the shaft 4i with the sprockets I48 and I48. whereby rotational drive is interconnected between the shafts H and I02 and I04.

The chain 14 is mounted on a sprocket I52 on 'the shaft I23. A sprocket II also carried on the shaft I29 drives the chain 15 which in turn is carried on the sprocket I! .on shaft H.

A sprocket I34 mounted on the shaft I24 imparts drive to a chain IJI which imparts drive to a shaft I53 which carries a bevel gear I32. The bevel gear I32 meshes with a complementary bevel gear I33 on the shaft I34. A spur gear I" is mounted on and is driven by the shaft I34. Gear I35 mates with a spur gear I38 directly driving a conveyor in the wagon elevator 58. It is thus apparent that the mechanisms to be driven all obtain their power from the tractor power take-oil shaft. The particular drive, however, is not important to this invention and it should be understood that any suitable driving means may be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The snapping rolls 3! and II are sitioned at each side of the tractor. and including a sheller unit positioned at each side of the tractor, means feeding shelled corn from each of the sheller units and a-single set of screens and shaker mechanisms are provided for receiving grain delivered centrally of the tractor from each v of the shelle'r units.

,2. In a corn shelling device for tractor mounted corn harvesters of the type having a substantially longitudinally extending harvester unit positioned at each side of the tractor, a transversely extending housing at the rear of the tractor and joining said spaced harvester units, said harvester units having corn snapping means and conveying meansfor delivering snapped ears laterally into said transversely extending housing, and comprising individual shelling means in saidtransversely extending housing adjacent to and'adapted to shell the ears of corn harvested .and snapped by each of said harvester units, and single cleaning means for corn received from both of said shelling means.

3. A com sheller device for tractor mounted corn harvesters of the type having a substantially In operation, the tractor mounted implement I is driven through a field of standing corn, whereupon the stalks are severed by the laterally reciprocating sickles 28 and 29 .and the stalks are 'thence carried upwardly and rearwardly and turned to a horizontal position so that the butt ends are placed rearwardly and are carried by the conveyors 30 and guided in the rearward conveying of the stalks by the conveyors 34 and 40 to the snapping rolls 3! and 33. The stalks are carried through the rolls with the ears being snap- I drops through the semi-circular screen 48 and onto the shaker pans SI and 52, during which time a blast of air from the fan 53 is directed by the mouth til through the shaker pans II and 52 carrying any loose dust or trash particles out the end opening 54. The cleaned shelled corn is thereupon recovered by the worm 58, which delivers the kernels to the shaker elevator SI. The husks are removed by the husk removing rolls '2 and 63 and the cobs exit through the central openings Ill and II in the top of the shelling chambers.

Many details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted herein otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shelling device for tractor mounted corn harvesters in which a harvester unit is polongitudinally extending harvester unit positioned st each side of the tractor, a transversely extending housing at the rear of thetractor and joining said spaced harvester units, said harvester units having corn snapping means and conveying means for delivering snapped ears laterally into said transversely extending housing, and comprising shelling means in said transversely extending housing adjacent each of said harvester units and to each other, single cleaning means for corn received from both of said shelling means, and a common elevator for all of the shelled corn.

4. A shelling device for a tractor mounted corn harvester, a longitudinally extending housing positioned at one side of said tractor, means in said housing for gathering standing com, com stalk conveying means in said housing for transportin the corn rearwardly therein, ear snapping means positioned substantially at the rear of said longitudinally extending housing and adapted to receive the stalks from said conveying means, and

comprising a corn shelling'means positioned laterally of said longitudina' .extending housing. and a conveyor between d longitudinally extending housing and said helling means for delivering snapped ears to said shelling means, said conveyor including an anger on a transversely positioned shaft, said shelling means including a shelling rotor and a cooperative shelling grid, and said shelling rotor mounted on the transversely positioned shaft of the auger;

5. A shelling device for a tractor mounted com 7 harvester of the type having a longitudinally extending housing positioned at one side of -said tractor, means in said housing for gathering standing corn, corn stalk conveying means in said housing for transporting the corn rearwardly therein, ear snapping means positioned substantially at the rear of said longitudinally extending housing and adapted to receive the stalks from said conveying means, and comprising a corn shelling means positioned laterally of said longitudinally extending housing, and a conveyor between said longitudinally extending housing and said shelling means for delivering snapped ears to said shelling means, said conveyor including an auger on a transversely positioned shaft, said shelling means including a shelling rotor and a cooperative shelling grid, and said shelling rotor mounted on the transversely positioned neath said shelling grid for separating chaff and dirt from the shelled corn, and a fan arranged and constructed to direct a blast of air over said shaker pan to discharge chaff and dirt.

6. A shelling device for tractor mounted corn harvesters of the type having a longitudinally extending housing positioned at one side of said tractor, means in said housing for gathering standin corn, corn stalk conveying means in said housing for transporting the corn rearwardly therein, ear snapping means positioned substantially at the rear of said longitudinally extending housing and adapted to receive the stalks from said conveying means, and comprising a corn shelling means positioned laterally of said longitudinally extending housing, and a conveyor between said longitudinally extending housing and said shelling means for delivering snapped ears to said shelling means, said conveyor including an anger on a transversely positioned shaft, said shelling means including a shelling rotor and a cooperative shelling grid, and said shelling rotor mounted on the transversely positioned shaft of the auger, shaker pans positioned beneath said shelling grid for separating chaif and dirt from the shelled corn, and a fan arranged and constructed to direct a blast of air over said shaker pan to discharge chaif and dirt, an inclined floor beneath said shaker pans for receiving clean shelled corn and delivering it to one end thereof, and an elevator for elevating the shelled corn to a trailing wagon or-the like.

7. A shelling device for tractor mounted corn harvesters of the type having a substantially 1ongitudinally extending harvester unit positioned at each side of the tractor, a transversely extending housing at the rear of the tractor and joining said spaced harvester units, said harvester units having corn snapping means and auger conveying means for delivering snapped ears laterally into said transversely extending housing,

and severing means at the forward end of said harvester, means for conveying the severed stalks rearwardly longitudinally of the tractor in a substantially horizontal position, transverse snapping rolls spaced rearwardly from said longitudinal conveying means and rearwardly of the rear axle of the tractor, and comprising a sheller unit mounted on the tractor transversely thereof rearwardly of the rear axle, said unit including a transverse sheller cylinder and hopper leading into said cylinder at its outer end, said hopper being positioned forwardly of and beneath said snapping rolls, a shelling rotor in said cylinder, transverse husk-receiving rolls arranged along the rear side of said cylinder, a perforated grid extending around the lower portion of the cylinder to provide means for removal of grain from the cylinder, a grain-receiving pan beneath said grid, shaker screens positioned rearwardly of said grain pan for removing foreign material from said grain, means for dischargin cobs and other extraneous material from the shelling cylinder at the inner end thereof adjacent the central portion of the tractor, said material being delivered to the shakerscreens for removing grain therefrom, a grate extending rearwardly and upwardly from the snapping rolls over which the stalks pass whereby grain entrained thereby falls downwardly through said grate, a floor beneath said grate and inclined rearwardly and upwardly from a position adjacent the snapping rolls, auger conveyor means arranged and constructed to receive grain from said floor and deliver it to the shakers whereby said 'grain is recovered along with the other grain, a fan positioned on the forward side of said sheller unit, conduit means leading from said fan for delivering a current of airover said shakers, an upwardly and rearwardly extending elevator positioned at the rear of said harvester unit, a transverse auger means for delivering grain transversely toward said elevator, said means for discharging the cobs comprising a spring regulated gate.

EDWARD R. GERBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN'IS 

